Originally Posted by BeatNavy

If you are going to drop a warrant packet, you'll need some LORs from senior officers and/or warrant officers, and possibly chain of command support. As a brand new guy, some commanders may not sign off on that until a period of demonstrated excellence (not sure if commander's signature is required for warrant packet, but likely is). Most guys I know who wrote LORs for people required the whole packet to be complete (minus the LORs), a review of the packet and an interview. As a brand new private, it may be difficult to get enough CW4/CW5s to write you letters of rec from your local aviation brigade, and that's assuming you are stationed where an aviation unit is located. The earliest I saw someone get a warrant packet approved was at the 4 year mark. Maybe there are some that do it more quickly. Not saying it can't be done sooner, but most warrants I went to flight school with were either high school to flight school, or E5-E7s.

What is stopping you from applying for the WOFT street-to-seat/highschool to flight school program? Did your recruiter lie to you and tell you that you couldn't do it and had to enlist first? I would never advise my friends, or my own kids to enlist hoping to get a warrant packet approved. It isn't quick. Or, you can apply off the street as a high school kid and go straight to flight school. And there are guard units right now hurting for pilots. My stick buddy (army speak for sim/flying parter) was 18 and right off the street.

I know zero about your situation, and everyone has reasons for doing stuff, but if I were you, I'd tear up the contract you have, and insist on getting a flight/warrant contract.

Let's assume you drop your packet and get it approved in 3 years from now (though 5 is more conservative and realistic). Then you go to Rucker a year later after you get your packet submitted and accepted. That's 4 years from now. You leave rucker after 1.5 years of flight school (5.5 from now). Your commitment is 6 years from getting wings, although I heard that is going to 8. For arguments sake, lets say its 6...so that's 11.5 years from now. You'll have your GI bill by then, and/or you start doing an RTP, if they are still around in 11-12 years. The soonest you could touch an airline cockpit is 12 years from now. I'm guessing it'll be closer to 15 years depending on the aforementioned variables.

If you go straight to warrant, 1) your pay will be higher, 2) your commitment will end sooner, and 3) you might be able to get to the airlines before the hiring wave slows significantly. If you go guard, all of the above is true, but you can go part time for your commitment and can get an airline job before your flight commitment is up.

If you really want to be an airline pilot, there are programs out there and loans available that can accelerate that process and get you in a jet cockpit a lot faster...like 3-4 years. With regional pay/bonuses, it's doable. You can enlist or go warrant in the guard after you've started that journey if you really want to.

Anyway, hate to try to steer you away from your current course if that's what you want, but I want you to have your eyes wide open about the reality of the path you are trying to go down. If your end-state is airlines, there are quicker ways to get there, and ones that will put you a whole lot better off in the long run seniority wise. And this industry will likely be way different in 12 years.

Good luck whatever you do, and thanks for serving.